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to guide her, Joanna could be left to manage Roselynde while Alinor and Ian went on progress. |
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"Lady Alinor," Lady Salisbury whined, "I asked you if you were never ill." |
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"I beg your pardon, madam. I was watching my daughter at play. No, I am never ill." |
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"You are not troubled by your flux?" |
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"Not at all, nor, to speak the truth, by breeding. I have found the last month tedious because it was difficult to ride, but" her voice checked. Sidling down the room, pressed as close to the wall as he could get for fear of touching and thus contaminating the gentlefolk, was Alinor's chief huntsman. "I beg you excuse me, Lady Ela," Alinor said hastily, controlling the tremor of nervousness in her voice. "I see a servant of mine where he should not be, and I must speak to him." |
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Deaf to the plaintive protests that reprimanding servants was the work for higher servants, not for a lady, Alinor rose and hurried toward her man, gesturing him to go back to the stairwell. |
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"Lady, we have him," the huntsman said eagerly, as soon as Alinor reached him. |
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Alinor had almost forgotten him in her anxiety about Ian, but she did not allow her disappointment on one subject to blind her to the importance of the other. "Come," she said briefly, and led the way upstairs. If this was the king's messenger that had been taken, no ears but hers must hear of it. The huntsman looked around curiously when they emerged into the women's quarters. He had never been above the great hall and never expected to be, but aside from instruments for weaving and spinning now pushed all together near the walls to make room for the beds of some of the guests, there was nothing to be seen. All the women were below. |
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The luxury of Alinor's chamber made his eyes bulge. |
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